Science and Engineering Building: Enabling Works

The nine-storey Science and Engineering Building is a new state-of-the-art research and teaching building for the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. It will also accommodate a new theatre complex for the School of Arts and Media in a Northern basement extension, situated under Alumni Park.

The new SEB will deliver a world class research environment, providing purpose-built modern facilities for high-end research in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and the Arts and Media, and to support a new teaching pedagogy. For the first time in UNSW’s history Schools of Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, MWAC and School of Arts and Media will be co-located in two state-of-the-art, purpose-built and interconnected buildings.

The Basement, Ground and Level 1 will deliver dedicated undergraduate Chemical Engineering and Chemistry teaching laboratories, Centrally Allocated Teaching Space and theatres for Arts and Media, and incorporating cutting edge facilities, including audiovisual equipment and information technology systems. A flexible infrastructure intensive research Pilot Hall will also be delivered on the first floor as an extension of UNSW’s Industry collaboration into research and learning. This focus of teaching activity around the ground floor and adjacent Campus environment is key to UNSW’s world-class status and the ambition of providing a rich student experience.

The contemporary laboratory and workplace design will allow for maximum flexibility, shared use of equipment and specialised space, and improved efficiency, flexibility and reliability of plant and equipment.

Environmentally-sustainable design initiatives include the addition of photovoltaic cells, highly efficient building plant and equipment, high performance glazing and the use of bore water for non- potable requirements are to be included.

Project Update

Enabling works for the new building have begun:

Buildings D7, D8 and E8 (the old Materials Science and Engineering Building) have been demolished;

The Builder's site, with hoarding, site sheds and services, has been established;

Significant peripheral site works have been undertaken in Union, International and College Roads and Third Avenue;

A temporary substation, located to the west of International House, has been activated.

Enabling works were planned and managed to maintain business continuity and to minimise disruption, as much as practicable.

UNSW are also redeveloping The Roundhouse (E6) during the Science and Engineering Building Enabling Works.

More information

For more information about the Science and Engineering Building project, you can attend the weekly campus interface meetings, held at 2pm each Monday at the Brookfield Multiplex site office near Alumni Park. Please contact Facilities Management Senior Project Manager Eddie Swat: e.swat@unsw.edu.au for details.